Electrical heating device or element



Margh 13, 1945. A. SHELBY EI'AL ELECTRICAL HEATING DEVICE OR ELEMENT Original Filed July 11, 1941 I l/VVENTOAS 37 WW 9 WM 5 #M,

A ATTORNEYS INSULA no Patented Mar. 13, 1945 Albert Shelby and: Carl Hilgeman, Bufialo,

Y 7N. K; said Hilgeman assignortosaid Shelby Originalapplication July 1 1', -1 941 ','Serial No.

Divided and this application November: 25,1942,- serlal -No. 4663868 SYCIaim'SJ. (Cl. 219-40) This invention relates to electrical heating devices or elements'and more specificallyto improvements in heatingelements adapted foruse' in hair treatin apparatus of" the type disclosed in our original application for United States Letters'Pfltent Serial No. 401,928; filed July 11, 1941, of which the present application is a division.

The hair treating apparatus disclosed in said original application comprises a casing. forming a treating chamber and adapted to be opened and closed. to enable tresses, locks or portions of the growing. hair of a; personshead to be enclosed therein for treatment, as for straighteningor removing: the curl or. kinks thereof; and electrical heating elements for heating liquid-er moisture to generate steam or hot-vapor in thecasingifor softening or conditioning the hair while being treated or subjected to the-straightening action.

One object'of'th'e invention is to produce 'apractical, desirable and eiiicient electrical heatingdevice or element of improved or novel construction.

Other objects are to provide a heating device of an improved construction'which is adapted for main hair treating apparatus of the sort disclosedin the aforesaid original application; which comprises an improved arrangement'or combination of absorptive material adapted to absorb or to hold'liquid or moisture and means for includ in; the, same in an electric circuit for heating it t'o-generatest'eam'or'vapor; which is of a; simple and economical construction adapting a heating element to bereadily placed in operative position and removed so as tofacilitate'and minimize the labor andcost-of replacement oi used or'defectivef elements with new ones.

Further objects and advantages of'the invention will appear from the following" specification of the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawing, and the novel features'oi the inventlonare' set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of. a hairtreating apparatus equipped with heating elements embodyingthe invention.

Fig. 215 a sectional planviewthereof on line 2-2, mg. 1.

Fig. 3- is a sectional elevation thereof on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 411s. a. longitudinal section online 4-4, Figv .5, of oneorthe. heatingelements detached.

Fig. 51; an end elevation thereof Fig. Gis asectionalview thereof on line B-6, Fig. 4.

The drawing illustrates the electrical heating element forming the subject matter of this applicationriin connectioniwith a hair treating apparatus: constructedmse disclosed in said original application, but it is not thereby intended to limit theinv'ention' to suchapplication or use ofthe he ating' element.

Referring to the drawing, l5 indicates the casin forming the hair treating chamber l6 of the apparatus; This apparatus, except as regards the heating element; may beconstructed andequipp'ed with hair straightening and other instrumentalities, as described in said original application, o'rit-may beof other'suitable construction.

' 30' i'ndi'catesthe electrical heating element, three of which are" shown in the apparatus illustrated for heating water or other suitable liquid for generatingsteam or hotvapor for conditionihg or treating the hair in the-chamber I'B. The heating element, asillustrated comprises a body 3| of suitable absorbent material, for example, asbestoscloth, retained between opposite side plates 32, of Bakelite or other suitable insulatmg" material, which-are-secured together so as to clamp the absorbent material between them,-by hollow rivet's-33', 34, passing through and riveted in: holes in the ends of the side plates 32. An electrode 35 preferably" consisting of astrip' of wirescreening or thinperforated metal, is se cured at one end to the rivet 34', andfle'xtends therefrombetweenlayers or foldsof theabsorbent material. Oppositeelectrodes 36, consisting of thin stripsofsuitable metal, are secured to and extend from the other rivet 33a't' opposite sides of the first electrode 35; being preferably disposed between folds-'or'layers of the absorbent material and being held thereby from contact with the middle electrode 35. The middle electrode 35 may be secured between spacing sleeves 3! clamped on'thexrivet 34 between the side plates 32 and the 'twoelectrodes: 36*may be clamped between the side plates 32 and a spacing sleeve38'surround ing the rivet33between' the electrode strips. The two electrodes 36 of one polarity, are in electrical connection with the'rivets 33, and-theelectrode 35,01: opposite polarity, is in electrical connectionwith the otherr'ivet 34; so that whenthe rivets 33, 34 are placed inelectrical connection with the opposite sides ofan electric circuit and theabsorbent body- 3| is saturated or moistened with water or other suitable liquid, the closing of the electric circuit will establish a current through the liquid or moisture in the element and heat the same'soas to generatesteam or hot vapor.

Asshown, the heating elements 30 are mounted in. the casing- IS with an-extension of the rivet at one-endofieach element secured to a conducting'bar 40 andan extension of the other rivet of each element secured to a-separate conducting post-4|. Theserivet-extensions may be formed, as shown, bypins fitting tightly in the longitudinal holes of-the hollow rivets. Theconducting bar 40- may befixed atone end, as bythreaded studs 42 and. 43;. and-nutsto a transverse partition or wall 44 of the casing l5, and one of these studs forms a binding post for connecting the bar with a wire or electrical conductor. Each post 4| may be secured to the adjacent side wall of the casing, as by a threaded stud 45 projecting from the post through a hole in the wall and secured therein by a nut, and this stud forms a binding post for the connection of a wire or electrical conductor. Preferably, the rivet extensions of each element are seated in open grooves 46 in the conducting bar 40, and in the companion post 4|, and are removably secured therein by screws 41 which enter threaded holes,

ready removability or interchangeability, any one or more of the elements can be quickly removed and replaced by a new element or elements, without interference with a remaining element or elements, should this be necessary or desirable for any reason, such as defectiveness or lessened efficiency thereof, or because of their becoming clogged or fouled. When the described elements are mounted in place in the apparatus, as explained, their side plates 32 stand on edge so that the absorptive bodies 3i between them are exposed at the top, and liquid can be readily poured thereon for saturating or moistening the bodies. The elements are sturdy and durable and not liable to injury by the handling or manipulation thereof when placing them in or removing them from operative position. Nevertheless they are of simple and economical construction adapted to be made at minimum cost and labor.

The heating elements 30 can be used with entire safety for treating peoples hair in apparatus such as mentioned. The elements will heat up only when their absorbent bodies 3| are moist or liquid is present. Consequently, no damage can be done in their use either to the hair or the elements themselves, since if they become dry, they will not function and, so long as they are moist, they will generate steam or moist heat which prevents injury to the hairs or elements.

-We claim:

1. An electrical heating element comprising a pair of opposed elongated insulating plates, cross members at the end portions of said plates insulated from each other and securing the plates together in spaced substantially parallel facing relation, a bod of absorptive material clamped between said plates, opposite spaced electrodes extending in opposite directions lengthwise between said plates substantially parallel with said plates and with each other with a portion of said body between and holding the electrodes apart, each of said electrodes being connected to one of said cross members, and means for connecting said electrodes in an electric circuit for heating a liquid held by said absorptive body.

2. An electrical heating element comprising a pair of opposed, elongated non-conducting plates, cross members insulated from each other and rigidly securing said plates together at opposite ends in spaced substantially parallel facing relation, a plurality of layers of absorptive material arranged face to face and clamped between said plates, opposite electrodes each secured to one of said cross members and extending from said cross members in opposite directions lengthwise between layers of said absorptive material with a portion of the material between and holding said electrodes apart, and means for connecting said electrodes in an electric circuit for heating a liquid held by said absorptive material,

3. An electrical heating element comprising a pair of elongated non-conducting plates, rivets at opposite end portions of said plates insulated from each other and securing the plates in spaced substantially parallel facing relation, an absorptive body clamped between said plates, an electrode consisting of a thin strip connected to and extending from one of said rivets lengthwise between said plates in said absorptive body, spacing sleeves on said rivet between said electrode and each of said plates, a pair of opposite electrodes consisting of thin strips connected with and extending from the other rivet lengthwise between said plates at opposite sides of said first mentioned electrode, said absorptive material extending between and separating said electrodes, a spacing sleeve on said second rivet between said pair of opposite electrodes and spacing them apart, and means for connecting said rivets and electrodes in an electric circuit for heating a liquid held by said absorptive body.

4. An electrical heating element comprising a pair of opposed elongated non-conducting plates, tubular rivets connecting said plates at opposite ends and securing said plates together in spaced facing relation, an absorptive body clamped between said plates, a pair of spacing sleeves on one of said rivets, an electrode consisting of a thin strip secured to said rivet between said sleeves and extending therefrom lengthwise between said plates in said absorptive body, a spacing sleeve on the other rivet between said plates, a pair of opposite electrodes secured to said second rivet between opposite ends of said sleeve and said plates, and extending lengthwise between the plates at opposite sides of and spaced from said first electrode by portions of said absorptive body, and rivet extensions secured in said tubular rivets and forming terminals for connecting said electrodes in an electric circuit for heating a liquid held by said absorptive body.

5. An electrical heating element comprising a pair of opposed, relatively stiif non-conducting plates, cross members insulated from each other and securing said plates together in spaced facing relation, an absorptive bod held in place between said plates, electrodes each connected with one of said cross members and extending lengthwise substantiall parallel with said plates and with each other between said plates with a portion of said absorptive body between and holding said electrodes apart, posts in electrical connection with said electrodes and projecting laterally from one of said plates, and means for connecting said electrodes in an electric circuit for heating liquid in said absorptive material comprising conducting supports provided with open seats in' the tops of said supports in which said posts are removably fastened for securing said element on said supports with said plates of the element standing on edge.

ALBERT SHELBY. CARL F; HILGEMAN. 

